IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for July 9, 2013

Published: Monday, July 8, 2013 at 10:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 8, 2013 at 10:22 p.m.

IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for July 9, 2013

It's progress

In answer to those who hope and pray that the Affordable Care Act fails, I find it un-American to wish a national program designed to remedy a critical problem (i.e., the unsustainable cost of health care in America) to flounder.

Whether or not one supported the bill, or whether or not one supports Barack Obama, it is in the public interest that the anticipated result (a general decrease in the cost of health insurance) is achieved. Anyone who would wish harmful results or work to achieve harmful results is not a friend of the millions of middle-class Americans who stand to benefit from the success of this bill. There is a difference between being skeptical and harboring a will for destruction. The former is democratic, the latter, anarchic.

Furthermore, although the ACA may be flawed, it is a step in the right direction. No one can argue that health care reform was not or is not needed. I appeal to citizens and representatives who oppose the measure to come up with a more viable solution to the challenge those who had the courage to rise against put their political fortunes on the line for.

Thomas Denny

Ocala

Following Egypt's lead

The people in Egypt did it the right way. No bombs, no fighter jets, no massacres, just a few million-man marches across the country.

I wonder if this same method would work in our America? If our elected officials continue to ignore the voices of the majority of the American people, we can either consider this action or form a new political party dedicated to the conservative voters of this great country. We should all be very concerned about the losses in our freedom of speech, our privacy and an administration that is cutting our military to the bones, refuses to protect our borders from illegal immigration and never gets tired of placing more taxes on us to pay for the foolish spending of the administration and its appointed leadership in the IRS and other agencies.

It's time for everyone to get their heads out of the sand and take a stand for America before it's too late.

Bill Curtis

Ocala

Like the Founding Fathers

Thanks for reprinting the editorial “Freedom's Day” in the Independence Day paper. It's great to see you treat our Founding Fathers, and the principles they believed in, with the honor and respect they deserve. Wow! Even the Constitution and God almighty were mentioned with reverence. Also appreciated were the piece by Suzanne Fields, the Hobby Lobby ad and other coverage of the day.

What's striking, though, is how inconsistent it all is with what we read in the newspapers the other 364 days of the year. The Star-Banner's editorial positions, in perfect harmony with most other media outlets, routinely support, promote and defend most every cause that stands in direct opposition to what these brilliant men believed in as they established our country.

A real attention-grabber in the article was mention of how the Founding Fathers would be “blown away” by present-day America. Surely that is correct, but for many reasons other than those cited, as it becomes more apparent every day that our country is losing its mind, we need to be sure that we understand and cherish our priceless gift of freedom. It's especially true now as our freedoms are being taken away at the hands of our governments — federal, state and local — faster with each passing day.

It's my unfounded hope that the Star-Banner would treat the precepts of our Founding Fathers — and God — with similar dignity year round, not just on Independence Day when it apparently seemed the right thing to do.

David R. Jones

Fort McCoy

Deen misjudged

Regarding the letter last week about Paula Deen being dropped by Food Network, Walmart, Target and others because more than 20 years ago, while working as a bank teller in Georgia, a black man entered her bank and put a gun to her head in a holdup. She later used the “N-word” at home while telling her husband about the horrifying event.

I would assume — or hope — that Walmart and Target have the guts to remove all of the rap and hip-hop CD's that contain this same word and that are also racist to white people. It is acceptable if they use it, but it is a racist word if a person of lighter skin uses it.

Last week, we celebrated the Fourth of July, our Independence Day. Racism exists until we stop the pendulum, and that means accepting each other as individuals.

That little lady who started a Civil War made Uncle Tom real; more so, she described him as an individual, a human being.

I am an individual. My personal heritage is my own to celebrate. I do not need others to recognize that right.

My responsibility is to respect my neighbors' beliefs and inclinations as long as no one is harmed.

Time heals nothing. Time is an opportunity for people to change, to open minds, to accept, to think for themselves. How much more time do we have to spend swinging that damned pendulum back and forth until we realize that we are all individuals who cannot be lumped into a category?

Who will stop the pendulum?

Heather Sanborn Ramirez

Ocala

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